Sudan Military Regains Control of Govt Headquarters

Social media videos showed soldiers inside the palace, marking the 21st day of Ramadan. A Sudanese military officer, identified by his captain’s epaulettes, confirmed the army's presence in the compound. The palace appeared partially destroyed, with soldiers seen walking over shattered tiles, armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, chanting “God is the greatest!”

Sudan’s Information Minister Khaled al-Aiser confirmed the retaking of the palace, declaring on social media: “Today, the flag is raised, the palace is reclaimed, and the journey continues until complete victory.”

A Strategic and Symbolic Victory

The Republican Palace, located along the Nile River, served as the government’s seat before the war and is depicted on Sudanese currency. Its capture represents a significant military gain for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been largely pushed out of Khartoum since the conflict erupted in April 2023. However, sporadic gunfire was heard in the capital, raising questions about ongoing clashes or celebratory gunfire.

The RSF has not yet acknowledged losing the palace, and despite this setback, the battle is unlikely to end soon, as the RSF controls territory in other parts of Sudan. On Thursday, the RSF claimed to have seized al-Maliha, a key desert city in North Darfur. While clashes were confirmed by Sudan’s military, it did not state that the city had been lost.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The war has caused catastrophic human suffering, with over 28,000 people killed and millions displaced. The United Nations has described the conflict as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Famine is ravaging parts of the country, with some families resorting to eating grass. The true death toll may be even higher.

The Republican Palace, a historical symbol of power and independence, was also the site where Sudan’s flag was first raised in 1956. It has long been a target of military shelling, especially in recent months.

A Long History of Conflict

Sudan has experienced ongoing instability since the 2019 popular uprising that ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The brief transition to democracy collapsed in 2021 after a military coup led by Burhan and Dagalo. Tensions between the Sudanese military and the RSF erupted into full-scale conflict in 2023, with the military recapturing key oil facilities and launching strikes on RSF positions. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses, and the RSF’s involvement in ethnic targeting has drawn international condemnation. The U.S. has labeled the RSF’s actions as genocidal, although both sides deny the allegations.